The first Championship Weekend in the ACAA's Return to Play is upon us, and the ACAA Soccer Championships provide a number of intriguing matchups on Semifinal Saturday.
(1) Holland Hurricanes vs. (4) UNB-Saint John Seawolves
Women's Semifinal #1 - 10 a.m.
The Hurricanes swept the season series over the Seawolves with a 3-1 win in Saint John to begin the season that was tighter than the score would indicate, as well as a 4-0 win in Cornwall, P.E.I. during the final weekend of the regular season.
Offensively, the trio of Emily Lepine (First Team All-Conference, 11 goals), Sarah MacVarish (Second Team All-Conference, eight goals) and Emily Cormier (Second Team All-Conference, seven goals) accounted for 26 of Holland College's 34 goals this season, while Karlee Duval (First Team All-Conference, six goals) and Jocephine Splitgerber (five goals) provided the majority of the Seawolves' scoring in the regular season.
However, this one may come down to a battle of which keeper blinks first, as Bri Spencer (HC) and Jillian Smith (UNBSJ) come into this weekend having been named the two most recent ACAA Athletes of the Week on the women's side.
(2) Mount St. Vincent University Mystics vs. (3) University of King's College Blue Devils
Women's Semifinal #2 - 12:30 p.m.
The Mystics came out on the better end of the series with their cross-town rivals, beating the Blue Devils 2-1 on October 7 before playing to a 1-1 draw a week ago in the final game of the season for both sides.
For Mount St. Vincent, ACAA Women's Soccer Player of the Year Annika Munroe will be looked upon to control the tempo and generate scoring opportunities for the likes of ACAA Women's Soccer Rookie of the Year Kayley Clair (Second Team All-Conference, six goals) and Esja Marr (First Team All-Conference, four goals). On the UKC side of the ball, the dual threat of Anna Dugandzic (First Team All-Conference, seven goals) and Sophie Shepherd (six goals) will prove difficult to contain, so expect fireworks out of this matchup.
The Blue Devils will be backstopped by First Team All-Conference keeper Rebecca Florean, while the Mystics will look for a strong performance out of Morgan Gillis.
(1) St. Thomas University Tommies vs. (4) UNB-Saint John Seawolves
Men's Semifinal #1 - 3 p.m.
In completing an unbeaten season, the CCAA #6-ranked Tommies had the measure of the Seawolves through tightly-contested 1-0 and 2-0 victories throughout the season.
The Tommies have a complete side from back to front, led by ACAA Men's Soccer Player of the Year Brett Springer and his 15 goals up front and First Team All-Conference keeper Luke Ewen in goal. However, the true strength of this side is defensively, with ACAA Men's Soccer Rookie of the Year Evan Rees and fellow First Team All-Conference member Josh Oakes anchoring a stout back line that conceded only five goals in the regular season.
For the Seawolves, First Team All-Conference member Nick Ellingwood will be counted on to provide veteran leadership and an offensive touch after scoring five times in the regular season, while Second Team All-Conference member Griffin Cassidy will look to build on the seven goals he scored in the regular season. Lucas McDonald had the majority of the minutes in goal for the Seawolves this season, and he will be counted on again in a big situation.
(2) Holland College Hurricanes vs. (3) Mount St. Vincent University Mystics
Men's Semifinal #2 - 5:30 p.m.
It appears the two-year absence from competition didn't make the heart grow fonder, as these historical rivals played each other tough in the regular season, with the Hurricanes defeating the Mystics in both regular season matchups by scores of 3-1 and 3-2.
Though the Hurricanes have plenty of scoring depth, they will be looking to First Team All-Conference members Mohammad Alhaj Ali (six goals) and Kazuya Iwasaki (four goals) to generate the lion's share of the offense, though Tegan Misener (four goals) and Second Team All-Conference member Parker MacLeod (three goals) are certainly capable of finding the back of the net in their own right, and they'll look to Second Team All-Conference keeper Keegan MacKinnon to keep things clean in their own end.
Mount St. Vincent has a similarly balanced scoring attack, with Second Team All-Conference member Logan O'Connell led the way with six goals this season, while Waris Atiqullah (five goals) and Steve Belinga (four goals) made their fair share of contributions, and that's before accounting for First Team All-Conference members Amath Bojang (three goals) and Luc Andriopoulos (two goals). With former First Team All-Conference keeper Kevin Abraham between the pipes under the lights, this is going to be an exciting game.